Dec 11, 2024  
2024-2025 Undergraduate and Graduate Catalog 
    
2024-2025 Undergraduate and Graduate Catalog

Psychological Sciences, B.S.


About the Psychological Sciences, B.S.


The Bachelor of Science degree in Psychological Sciences is designed to prepare students for graduate study in experimental, theoretical, or applied psychology. The Bachelor of Science degree, therefore, offers less flexibility than the Bachelor of Arts, instead emphasizing a heavy concentration in psychological science. Because this degree is intended to prepare students for graduate study, participation in undergraduate research via PSY 4000  is strongly encouraged.

Communication Literacy Requirement. The required number of hours for the major is 47, including three communication literacy courses in psychology. Courses designated as meeting the communication literacy requirement are PSY 2400 PSY 3306 , PSY 3401 , PSY 4305 PSY 4310 , and PSY 4334 .

At least 31 hours of the total credits toward the major must be taken from 3000- or 4000-level courses. Transfer students who major in psychology must complete at least 15 credit hours in psychology at Texas Tech. All psychology majors must have a minor.

In addition to offering regularly structured courses, the department provides opportunities to participate in various research and service activities of faculty members. These are particularly valuable for the student who intends to pursue graduate study in psychology. Interested students should confer with an advisor or any of the faculty. Such activities may contribute to the completion of major and/or minor requirements through enrollment in PSY 4000  during the junior and senior years. Nine hours of PSY 4000  may be counted toward the major and 12 hours may be counted toward the degree.

All undergraduate psychology majors must complete the following core program: PSY 1300 PSY 2400 , and PSY 3401  (with PSY 2400  as a prerequisite). All majors must also complete at least two courses from Group 1 and Group 2, plus at least six elective courses from the Special Topics group to reach a total of 47 hours in the major:

Core Courses (3 required, 11 credit hours):

Group 1 (select 2 courses, 6 credit hours):

Group 2 (select 2 courses, 6 credit hours):

Special Topics in Psychology (select at least 6 courses to reach the total 47 hours required in the major – can include courses from the above lists; up to 9 hours of PSY 4000 may count toward this requirement; minimum 24 credit hours):

Recommended Sample Curriculum


First Year


Fall

Total: 15

Spring

Total: 14

Second Year


Fall

Total: 15

Spring

  • PSY Group 1 Elective 3 Semester Credit Hours
  • PSY Special Topics Elective 3 Semester Credit Hours
  • Minor Elective 3 Semester Credit Hours
  • Minor Elective 3 Semester Credit Hours
  • Second Year Foreign Language 3 Semester Credit Hours
Total: 15

Third Year


Fall

  • PSY Group 2 Elective 3 Semester Credit Hours
  • PSY Special Topics Elective 3 Semester Credit Hours (CL)
  • Minor Elective 3 Semester Credit Hours
  • Oral Communication 3 Semester Credit Hours
  • English Literature 3 Semester Credit Hours
Total: 15

Spring

Total: 15

Fourth Year


Fall

  • PSY Group 2 Elective 3 Semester Credit Hours
  • PSY Special Topics Elective 3 Semester Credit Hours
  • PSY Special Topics Elective 3 Semester Credit Hours
  • Minor Elective 3 Semester Credit Hours
  • Language, Philosophy, & Culture 3 Semester Credit Hours* (Choose from the Arts and Sciences General Degree Requirement  list.)
  • Free Elective 1 Semester Credit Hour
Total: 16

Spring

  • PSY Special Topics Elective 3 Semester Credit Hours
  • PSY Special Topics Elective 3 Semester Credit Hours
  • Minor Elective 3 Semester Credit Hours
  • Creative Arts 3 Semester Credit Hours*
  • Multicultural 3 Semester Credit Hours*
Total: 15

Total Hours: 120


* PSY 3398  and some Language, Philosophy, and Culture and Creative Arts courses also count toward the Multicultural requirement .

NOTE: PSY 2400  and PSY 3401  always meet the communication literacy requirement; another communication literacy PSY course is required.

Foreign Language

A student must complete 3 hours at the sophomore level or above in a single language. The prerequisite for all sophomore language courses is proficiency at the freshman level. This proficiency can be determined through credit or by examination. The score attained on the exam will determine whether the student is placed in a second-year course, a 5-hour review course, or in some cases the first or second semester of a beginning (first-year) language course. See Arts & Sciences General Degree Requirements  for further explanation.